Georgette Mosbacher, CEO of Borghese Cosmetics, best-selling author, and dedicated advocate for America’s military veterans and their families, will speak on subject of ‘Civility and the Art of Giving Thanks.’ Her talk will be held Monday, Nov. 19, at 6pm at the Ferguson Library as part of a series on Civility in America, organized by the City of Stamford and The Dilenschneider Group.

Sacred Heart University and Purdue Pharma LP are sponsoring the series on civility in conjunction with Hearst Media Group in Connecticut and the Ferguson Library. Future speakers in the series will include former Major League Baseball Commissioner Fay Vincent and Joel Klein, former Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education.

Ms. Mosbacher believes ardently in the importance of gratitude, particularly for America’s veterans and their families. She has demonstrated this with a lifetime of involvement with scores of charitable institutions.

Ms. Mosbacher has worked tirelessly with organizations dedicated to members of the country’s armed forces, and has been honored for her work with the Green Beret Foundation and the Fallen Heroes Fund, which is building centers to help returning military personnel with head injuries.

“One of the most important facets of civility is to give back and show gratitude to those who reach out, lend a hand, stand up, and advocate for us- and especially to those who so selflessly serve us overseas and at home,” said Ms. Mosbacher. “It is an obligation we have as citizens, especially in a nation as great as ours.”

Among the nation’s most successful businesswomen, Ms. Mosbacher is the CEO and President of Borghese Inc., a worldwide cosmetic, skin care and toiletries company. From 1987 to 1995, Ms. Mosbacher served as CEO and owner of LaPrairie, where she built a world-class, prestigious beauty brand and later sold the company to Beiersdorf, an international skin and beauty care company.

Ms. Mosbacher is an advocate for women and children. She has authored two books, including the best seller, “Feminine Force,” a semi-autobiography and motivational guide for women and “It Takes Money Honey,” a women’s guide to total financial freedom. She has also provided testimony before Congress and other governmental bodies on women’s causes and other social issues.

Public opinion polls show that in every sector of society, civility has declined, and this decline is manifested in political attacks, lack of personal decency, outrage in the media and cyber-assaults in the blogosphere.

Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia is hopeful that the series of talks will spur thoughtful discussion and serve as encouragement to act in the spirit of the lecture series. “I cannot think of a more fitting venue for such a dialogue to take place than our great city of Stamford, a true cross section of the fabric of American life,” he said.

“The series is my personal call to make Stamford the most civil city in America,” said Pavia, “and I know it is one that we can answer.”

“A presidential election year such as this one is an opportune occasion to discuss the state of civility in our nation,” said Robert L. Dilenschneider of Darien, founder and president of the Dilenschneider Group, a strategic communications firm. “We must also recognize that civility extends beyond just cordiality. Ms. Mosbacher has appreciated the true scale of civility over the course of her life, especially when it comes to saying ‘thank you’, and delivering with action.”

Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013, 6 pm -- Civility in Education: Joel Klein, former Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education and currently CEO of Amplify and EVP/Office of the Chairman at News Corporation.

March 2013-- Fay Vincent, former Commissioner of Major League Baseball, a position he served in from 1989-1992.

April 2013-- Allan Goodman, president and CEO, Institute of International Education, which conducts research on international academic mobility and administers the Fulbright program sponsored by the United States Department of State. Dr. Goodman has authored several books on international affairs and was previously executive dean of the School of Foreign Service and professor at Georgetown University.

For information about the series, call (203) 977-5115 or register online at www.CityofStamford.org